Subphylum

From EvoWiki

Introduction

A subphylum (pl: "subphyla") is a special level of classification in the taxonomy of organisms that falls between phylum and class. Acknowledgement of subphyla is appropriate when there are important or salient traits that appear only in some classes of a given phylum. In other cases, subphyla are not usually assigned.

Examples

The subphylum vertebrata consists of chordates whose notochord is encased in a backbone:

• Kingdom: Animalia (animals)
• Phylum: Chordata (chordates, or animals with a central nerve cord)
• Subphylum: Vertebrata (chordates that have a backbone)
• Classes: Mammalia, Reptilia, Aves (birds), Amphibia, Osteichthyes (bony fish), Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fish), Agnatha (jawless fish)